Stalk-cutting machine



March 14, 1933.

W. J. LEWIS STALK CUTTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1952 2.Sheets-Sheet '1 I -INTOR. r g- WU. Lewis BY 0/ TJ W A TTORNEYS.

March 14, 1933.

W. J. LEWIS STALK CUTTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORI W JLen zs ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 14, 1933 mu JULIUS EwIsoF cLARxsDAL MISSISSIPPI SrA x-cUTrme MACHINE Application 1115a September 3, 1932. Serial no. 631,714.

This invention relates to improvements in stalk-cutting machines of that type in which the machine is propelled'astride of a row of plants, such as corn or cotton, and operates 5 to cut the stalks of the plants into small pieces, which drop to the ground; These small pieces are easily covered by earth in a subsequent plowing of the field. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a machine in which the front part is open to admit the stalks in an upright position, means being provided to guide the stalks to the cutting blades. Another object of the invention is to provide atransmission where by the traction of both supporting wheels of the machine can be utilizedin' driving the rotatable shaft carrying the cutting blades, the transmission including means whereby one of the supporting wheels can turn at a slower rate than the other wheel without affecting the drive of the faster turning wheel. objects are described in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts Figure 1 is a plan view ofa stalk-cutting machine embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation.

Figure 3 is a front elevation.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view showing the one-way clutch inthe transmission between the traction wheel and the sprocket connection. 7

Figure 5 is a similar mounting of the cutting ing shaft. 7

Referring to the view, showing the blades on the drivdrawings in detail, the

tudinal side-pieces 5 connected at their rear ends by the cross-piece 6 and at theirintermediate parts by the cross-piece 7. 'Extending across the under side of the middle-part the side-pieces 5. The ends of the axle are. tightly held by the blocks so that the axle is firmly held in its horizontal position. The

curved metal support 14 'wardly over the cross-piece 6 at the'rear of The means for carrying out these larger bevel-gear shaft 19 extending transversely of the frame 20 bolted on pieces 5. On

frame of the machinecomprises'the longi traction wheel 11 a movement the teethpermit relative of both traction ends of the axle and form bearings 10 on whichare jour naled the traction wheels 11 for carrying the machine and driving the cutting mechanism.

Midway between the side-pieces 5 of the frame, in advance of the axialline of the wheels 11, is the vertical shaft'12 journaled project beyond the blocks at its upper end in the cross piece 7; The

lower end of the'shaft is journaled in the step 13 carried bythe forward end of the extending rearthe frame. This support is formed of stiff spring metal and to its extreme rear endis attached the drivers seat 15. At an intermediate'part the support is attached to the U-shaped cross-piece 16 secured at its. ends between the side-pieces-5. 7

On the upperend of the vertical shaft 12 is fixed the bevel-gear 17 meshing with the 18 .fixed on the horizontal with its ends j ournaled in the bearing blocks the upper edges of the sideeach end of this horizontal shaft, outside of the adjacent bearingblock,

is fixed the sprocket 1 wheel 21 in approximately the same vertical plane with the larger sprocket wheel 22 journaled on the bearing 10 at the end of the axle 8. The two sprocket wheels are connected by the sprocket. chain-23; The hub 24; 'of the sprocket Wheel 22 forms a clutchmember coacting with the complementary clutch member'25formed on cent traction. wheel 11.

compressed on the bearing 10 betweenthe side-piece 5 and the sprocket'wheel 22, normallypresses the'latter outwardly to engage the two clutch members.-

the teeth of the clutch 7 such that they engage when; the adjacent turns asthe machine moves there is a reverse turning of the wheel, the inclination of slipping movement of the two clutch members. In the normal forward movement ofv the machine the drive forward, but if wheels 11 is'trans mitted by the 1 hubof the adj a- A coil spring 26, l

'90 l The inclination of members 2425 is their respective clutches and the intervening gearing to the shaft 19, but when one of the Wheels is turned faster than the other, as in turning the machine, the drive of the faster 5 turning wheel is transmitted while the clutch members of the slower turning wheel slip to accommodate the accelerated drive imparted to the shaft 19 by the faster turning wheel. Also, when the machine is backed, the members of the clutches do not engage and there is no reverse rotation of the shaft '18. l

On the vertical shaft 12 are radially mounted three sets of cutting blades 27, in vertically spaced relation. There are four blades in each set and they are fixed at their inner ends on the hub 28 fast on the shaft 12. J ournaledon "the shaft 12, above each hub 28, is a collar .29, to which is secured the inner end of the stationary blade 30 to coact with the blades 27 of the adjacent set as the latter are revolved by. the shaft 12. The outer end of the blade 30 is secured to a fixed part of the machine, as will be explained further on.

Mounted in the forward part of the machine and to oneside therof is a grating comprising the uprights 31 bolted to one of the sides 5 of the main frame. Extending between the uprights, with their ends secured thereto, are the horizontal cross-bars 32. These cross-bars are curved-inwardly toward their rear ends and secured to the same are the outer ends of the stationary. cutting blades 30. The grating operates to guide the stalks between the fixed and revolving cutting blades. l i

Attached to the forward ends of the sides 5 of the main frame are'the brackets 33 for coupling shown) for propelling the machine. y Inthe operation ofthe machine, it is propelledalong a rowof stalks .with the latter in line with the longitudinal center of the machine. As the stalks enter between the ends of'thersides 5 of the main frame, they are engaged by the revolving blades 27 and pressed toward the grating 3132 to be guided by the cross-bars 82 against the stationary blades 30 to be cut into small pieces as-the blades 27 continue to revolve. The short pieces of the stalks fall to the ground and are easily turnedunder by a subsequent plowing of the soil[ It is to be observed that the front of the machine is open and clear of obstructions so that the stalks can enter between the sides 5 in an upright position to be engaged by the cutting blades. Also, in the rear of the -machine the parts are few and are so arranged that the severed stalks cannot collect andclog the operation. It is ,to be noted that the axle 8 does not extend directly across the machine between the wheels, but has a U-shaped rearextension. This extenstion provides the necesa sary stability to the axle and at the. same connectlon 21-23 the usual draft rigging (not transmitting the frame of time offers no obstruction to the rearward movement of the cut stalks during the forward progress of the machine. Likewise, the drop in the members la and 16 offer but little obstruction to the cut stalks so that the latter can fall clear of the machine.

As the machine moves forward in a direct line, the tractionwheels 11 turn at the same rate and the drive of both of them is utilized to drive the cutting blades.

the one-way clutch 24-25, and the sprocket to shaft 19, driving through the gears17 -18 the shaft 12 carrying the blades 27 By utilizing the drive of both traction wheels to revolve the cutting blades the strain-is distributed to 'both sides of the machine; also, the power of the drive is amplified so that. there is but little possibility of tough stalks choking the operation of the cutting'blades. Should the two traction-wheels turn. at different speeds, when the machine makes aturn for an instance, the one-way clutch 2 4 25 of the slower turning wheelpermitsa slip in the trans- G10 mission of the drive from that wheel so that the cutting blades can be driven by the faster turning wheel. lVhen the machine 7 is backed the one-way clutches at both wheels slip so that no drive is imparted to the cut- I ting blades. 1

1 What I claim is z 1. In a machine for cutting stalks,

the

combination of an axle having spindles at its ends and a horizontal U-shaped interme- @IOO 'diate partextending to the rear of the mathe spindle parts of the axle, a vertical shaft advance. of the 1 axle, a gearing for drive of at least one .of the tractor wheels to the vertical shaft to rotate the latter, sets of horizontal cutting blades fixed on the vertical shaft in spaced vertical .journaled in the frame in U haped part of the relation, stationary cutting blades respectively coacting. with the sets of cutting blades fixed on the vertical shaft, and a grating mounted in the forward partwof the frame-to guide the stalks between the coact- 1 1 ring cutting bladesas the machine movesforward.

.12. In a machine for cutting. stalks,"the

combination of an axle having spindles atits ends and a. horizontal U-shaped intermediate 1 part extending to the rear of the machine, opposite traction wheels journaled on the spindles of the axle, a frame including longitudinal sides mounted 'on'the spindle parts .of the axle and a central longitudinal mem- 1 5 ber extending below the U-shaped part of the axle, a vertical shaft journaled in the v he machine in advance of the U-shaped part of the axle and'with its lower end stepped on the forward end of the cen- V The drive of 75 each traction wheel-is transmitted through tral longitudinal member of the frame, a gearing for transmitting the drive of at least one of the tractor wheels to the vertical shaft to rotate the latter, sets of horizontal cutting blades fixed on the vertical shaft in. spaced vertical relation, a grating mounted in the forward part of the frame, and a stationary cut-ting blade coacting with each set of cutting blades fixed on the vertical shaft, each of said stationary blades being fixed at its inner end on a collar loose on the vertical shaft and fixed at its outer end to the grating, said grating operating to guide the stalks between the coacting cutting blades as the machine moves forward.

3. In a machine for cutting stalks, the combination of an axle having spindles at its ends and a horizontal Ueshaped intermediate partextending to the rear of the machine, opposite traction wheels journaled on the spindles of the axle, a frame mounted on the spindle parts of the axle, a vertical shaft journaled in the frame in advance of the U-shaped part of the axle, a gearing including a one-way clutch for transmitting the drive of each tractor wheel to the vertical shaft to rotate the latter during the forward movement of the machine, sets of horizontal cutting blades fixed on the vertical shaft with the sets in vertical spaced relation, stationary cutting blades respectively coacting with the sets of cutting blades fixed on the vertical shaft, and a grating mounted in the forward part of the frame to guide the stalks between the coacting cutting blades as the machine moves forward.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

, JULIUS LEWIS. 

